The purpose of this policy and procedure is
to establish an efficient grievance procedure in compliance with the
rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and the Department of Justice, i.e., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II, Section 35.107,
as set forth by the Office of Coordination and Review.

The McLean County Board, through the Office of the
County Administrator, shall be responsible for receiving, reviewing,
and processing valid Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grievances
as may be filed from time to time by individuals who wish to have
a particular policy or physical situation reviewed for ADA compliance.

The attached standard form[1] will be given to any individual who wishes to file an
ADA grievance or, if the complaint is telephoned into a County office,
will be completed by the appropriate County employee or department
head, and immediately forwarded to the Office of the County Administrator
for appropriate review and action.

It shall be the policy of the County of McLean
that no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason
of such disability, be excluded from the participation in, or be denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in programs, services,
or activities offered or sponsored by McLean County.

Should an individual feel he or she has been discriminated
against solely due to a disability or disability condition, that individual
has the right to file a grievance with the County, if the County is
the local entity which is accused of discriminating against said individual.

All complaints shall be made in writing, or may be
recorded by someone other than the complaining individual if he or
she cannot write. Such complaints shall be filed with the Office of
the County Administrator.

The complaint form shall include the full name, address,
and phone number of the complaining individual and briefly state the
nature of the complaint or a description of the alleged violation
of the ADA regulations.

The County Administrator shall be responsible for
conducting or assigning the investigation into the allegation. Said
investigation shall include evidence and statements from those associated
with the allegation and may include other documents or evidence as
provided following the filing of any ADA complaint. Said investigation
will afford all interested persons and/or their representatives, if
any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to a complaint.

Complaints related to employment with McLean County
which are filed by employment applicants will also be governed by
this article. Complaints related to employment with McLean County
brought forth by employees who allege, on their own behalf or on the
behalf of other employees, a violation of ADA standards are not subject
to this article.

A written determination as to the validity of the
complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued
by the Office of the County Administrator and a copy forwarded to
the complainant no later than 60 days after its filing.

The Office of the County Administrator shall maintain
all records of complaints and resolutions filed under this article
relating to all ADA complaints with the County of McLean, if any,
for five years.

The complainant may request a reconsideration of the
written determination made by the Office of the County Administrator.
The request for same shall be filed in writing with the Office of
the County Administrator no later than 15 days after written determination
has been sent to the complainant.

The right of the person to a prompt and equitable
resolution of the complaint filed hereunder shall not be impaired
by the person's pursuit of other remedies such as filing of an ADA
complaint with the responsible federal department or agency. Use of
this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other
remedies.

This policy and procedure shall be construed to protect
the substantive rights of interested persons to meet appropriate due
process standards, and to assure that the County of McLean complies
with the ADA and implementing regulations.